Switch



June 8, 1937. H H. scHNl-:CKLOTH SWITCH Filed NOV. 8, 1935 5Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY /NVE/VTO/ By H. h'. SCHNECK/ UTH June 8, 1937.H. H. scHNEcKLoTH 2,082,911

' SWITCH Filed Nov. 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/G.3

VERT/CAL Jun'e 8, 1937. H. H. scHNEcKLoTH 2,082,911

SWITCH Filed NOV. 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NVENTOR By 'I'. H.SCHNE'C/f/ OTH SWITCH Filed NOV. 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /N VE N TORBVH. H. SCHNEC/(LOTH ATTORNEY Patented June 8, 1937 UNTED STATES SWITCHHarry Howard Schneclrloth, Forest Hills, N. Y.,

assigner to American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a corporation ofNew York Application November 13 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic switches and particularly to thoseemployed in telephone systems.

The objects of the invention are to enlarge the contact-making capacityci automatic switches without increasing the amount of apparatus usedfor operating the contacts; to reduce lthe current consumption incidentto their operation; and otherwise to improve switches of this character.

In the patent to P. W. Sheatsley, No. 2,066,490, granted Jan. 5, i937,there is disclosed and claimed a cross-bar switch in which thecrosspoint contacts operated by the conjoint action ci' two cross-barsare held independently to permit the release of said bars, and in whichan operated contact set is subsequently released by the recperation ofone of said bars. And in the patent to P. W. Sheatsley, No. 2,066,491,granted Jan. 5, 1937, there is disclosed and claimed a cross-bar switchin which the operated contact set is held independently of the twooperating bars and is released by the reoperation of both or said bars.

A feature oi the present invention is a crossbar switch of this generalcharacter disclosed in the patents above noted in which the number ofseparate contact sets controlled by a pair of bars and the associatedmagnets are increased without adding to the number or" bars and magnetsrequired. This is accomplished by adding eXtra sets of contact springsat each cross-point served by a'horizontal bar and a vertical bar andprovid'lng a contact operating mechanism which operates to closeselectively any desired one of the contact sets at that cross-pointdepending on the order in which the magnets are energized anddeenergized. The contacts oi any set, once opern are held in operatedcondition to permit the release or" the magnets and bars for furtheruse. When it desired to release any operated set ci contacts across-point, this is eected by again operating and releasing theassociated magnets in a definite sequence which set oi contacts isinvolved.

The foregoing other features of the invention will be set tor-th more indetail in the following specliication and also in the appended claims.

in the drawings, which also :form a part of the specification:

Figure l is a front view showing a whole a cross-bar switchincorporating the features of this invention. ln figure certainduplicate depending onl 8, 1935, Serial No. 48,926

parts have been broken away and omitted to conserve space;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of the essential operating elementsof the switch;

3 and Il are side views of a portion oi the Contact operating mechanism,illustrating the horizontal operating bar in two different positions;

Figs. 5 and 6 are top views oi' the contact oper ating mechanism showingone of the vertical bars in two diierent positions;

Figs. 7 to 2l. are diagrams showing the contact operating elements inthe diierent relative positions involved in the selective operation andreu lease ci the Contact sets;

Fig. 22 is a detail of the Contact operating mechanism; and

23 illustrates a circuit suitable for opel ating the switch magnets.

The invention is applicable in general to switches of the cross-bar typein which the bars of a plurality or sets cooperate with each other tobring about the selective operation of a desired set or circuit-makingcontacts. A switch oi this kind is shown and described in theapplication of J. N. Reynolds, Serial No. 702,453, led December 15,1933, granted as Patent 2,021,329, Nov. i9, 1935. In the Reynolds patentand in the switch illustrated herein the cross-bars are rendered activeby imparting a rotary movement thereto. Other switches of this generalkind malte use of a sliding bar instead of the rotary bar, and thepresent invention may also be applied to switches of this kind.

Referring now to the drawings, the switch illustrated therein comprisesupper and lower frame members i and ii, and two side members and Thetrame members l and 2 are channel-shaped whereas theside members 3 andIl are L-shaped. The L-shaped members 3 and 4 t into the channels ofmembers i and E and are secured therein in any suitable manner, as bywelding.

The contact sets and the contact operating mechanism are mounted inunits on vertical mounting plates E, 6, etc. These plates are secured bymeans of screws 'l to the upper and lower frame members I and 2. Thenumber of these vertical units is determined by the desired capacity ofthe switch. The contact bank formed by 'the several mounting units maybe considered as divided into two multiples, a horizontal multipl-e anda vertical multiple. The horizontal con tact sets appearing atsuccessive cross-points along a horizontal row are multipled togetherCFI by means of strap wires not shown in the drawings. Likewise thecooperating vertical contact sets appearing at successive cross-pointsin a vertical row are multpled together. To effect a connection at anyparticular cross-point, it is necessary to bring about a closure betweenthe horizontal contact springs and the corresponding vertical contactsprings. This is accomplished by means of the contact selecting andoperating mechanism which will be described hereinafter'. Before takingup the operating mechanisms, however, a description will first be givenof the crossbars which control the selection and operation of thesemechanisms.

The contact selecting and operating mechanisms are operated by means oftwo of bars, the horizontal or select bars t, S, Ill, II and thevertical or operating bars I2, I3. Each of the horizontal bars is commonto two horizontal rows ol contacts, an upper row and a lower row. Forexample, the horizontal bar 8 is common to the two uppermost horizontalrows of contacts shown in Fig. 1. For each horizontal bar there areprovided two operating magnets, such as the magnets I4 and I 5associated with the horizontal bar 8. One magnet rotates the har in onedirection, and the other magnet rotates it in the opposite direction. Asshown, the magnets for some of the bars are mounted on the frame member3, and the magnets for the remaining horizontal bars are mounted on theopposite frame mem-- ber 4.

The several vertical bars are attached for rotary movement to theirrespective vertical mounting plates. The vertical bars i2 and I3, loreX- ample, are mounted on the plates 5 and G, respectively, and areoperated in a rotary move ment by the respective vertical magnets I6 andI1. Each of the vertical bars is common to two vertical rows ofcontacts. The bar I2 is com mon to the vertical rows shown at the rightand left of the mounting plate 5; the bar I3 common to the rows shown onthe right and left of the mounting plate 6; and the same is true of theremaining bars of the switch structure.

From the foregoing it follows that each crosspoint or point oi'cooperation between a horizon tal bar and a vertical bar is providedwith i'our sets of contacts. In order to select and operate any one ofthe four different sets oi contacts at a cross-point, there is provideda Contact operating mechanism which is controlled by the ac tion of thecorresponding horizontal and vertical bars. One of these Contactoperating mechanisms is shown in considerable detail in the up per leftcorner of the switch in Fig. l. This mechanism is common to the foursets ol' contacts I3, I9, 20 and 2|. The contact operating mechanism,which is shown more clearly in the detailed figures, includes two springoperating plates 22 and 23. The upper plate 22 is noxibly mounted onsprings 24, and and the lower plate 23 is likewise mounted for movementindependent of the plate 22. The detailed constructi o n of theseoperating plates is shown more clearly in Fig. 22. The upper operatingplate 22 has three notches 26, 21 and 2B. A roller 2i) mounted on thefree end oi the holding spring 3D rests in these notches to hold theplate E2 either in its central normal position or in one or the other ofits operated positions. When the roller 29 engages the notch 2l, theplate 22 rests in its normal position between the two sets oi contactsprings I8 and 20 to which this plate relates. In this position both olthe Contact sets I8 and 2U are open. When the plate 22 is moved to theright tc close the contacts It, the roller tti is forced out of notch2l, because ol the resiliency of the spring and drops into the notchhold plate in its operated pc sition alter the moving force has leenwithw drawn. Likewise when plate il" moved to the left to close the cole roller 29 is forced out ol the hol-` g notch 2l' and ialls into thenotch itil to hold the plate in 'this c ated position. @n the under edgeot the o' 'fig plate are three rectange ar "notches i, and co' cspondingin po tion to the hold-- i. 'ine purpose ci these he flexible operatingfinger 5f? to move the plate EL either to the right or .e lett, from.and to its normal position. The r opeiat u: plate E3, which serves toate the other oi contacts l2 and ill, is

ecu it,

likewise provA holding notches 3S and 3l' and ooerati notches ft. Thislower plate is held hy means of a roller fE-i mounted on a fles? thenotches or.

The contact operating plates at each crosspoint of the itch are operatedto selectively tf and positioned to engage close and to selectively openany ci the four sets of contact springs the cross-poi by ineens of theconjoint operation of in "tal bar and a vertice. bar, the intcrseclidentifies the cr .ss-point. For e "e, the cross-point shown :in Fig.and in me upper left corner ci the switch in Fig. l is identified by theintersection or horizontal bar E and 'vertical bar rl and the operatingat are actuated by means o this end the hori flexible operating fingerbar is normal, projects to a 'i oi which 'ided with when the 'dway be--d in ver tchos and prcvided plates 22! and Ell in their normalpositions. Tlrhorizontal bar il and the other herinzontal bars of theswitch are equipped with one of these operating Fingers for eachcross-polnt in crosspoint illustrated in ing arm ri, the free end oi wland recessed to prooi tions and zontal bars The vertical with theentrance into bar Il? and the other v; with a plurality of these barraving one such op, ing` arm lor cach of the cross-points in thecorrcsjaonding er1-tical row.

With the operating re including the contact operai' the ile e operatn"no the operating arm as, it is p ct and operA any one oi the four setsol Contacts and vto nai tain the operated contacts in dition after 'hehorizontal ar have been released. "With this n also possible to selectand releas ci contacts. piished ley operating the risen al and bars indifferent secr ro horizontal 1oar il 'L'lpfward from normal position asseen in l'flgs. 3 and if to its op d position as seen in Figs. el and S,the l2 is positioned within the central notch ST2 of the plate ,r 1.. y.i n operating ms each n above described,

AIl() 22 and opposite the exterior surface of the projection 44.Likewise by rotating the horizontal bar 8 downwardly, the nger 42 ispositioned within the central notch 39 of the plate 23 and opposite theexterior surface of the projection 45. In either of these cases therotation of the vertical bar I2 following the positioning of the iinger42 causes the arm 43 to move to the right causing either the projection44 or the projection 45, as the case may be, to engage the iinger 42 andmove either plate 22 or plate 23 to the right. Should, however', thevertical bar be operated rst, while the horizontal bar 8 is in itsnormal position, the operating arm 43 moves from its normal position asseen in Figs. 2 and 5 to its operated position as seen in Figs. 6 and 15such that the operating linger 42 now rests within the recess in theoverturned portion of said arm 43. If, thereafter, the horizontal bar 8is rotated either upwardly or downwardly the nger 42 takes up a positionwithin the recess behind either the projection 44 or the projection 45,the projecting` end and the nger 42 at the same time entering thecentral notch in either plate 22 or plate 23. If, now, while thehorizontal bar is maintained operated, the vertical magnet i6 isdeenergized the spring 46 withdraws the bar l2 and the arm 43. As thearm 43 returns to its normal position the inside surface of projection44 or projection 45, as the case may be, forces the finger 42 to theleft, thereby moving either the plate 22 or the plate 23 to theleft-hand position.

With the foregoing description of the structure and operation of theswitch in mind specic descriptions will now be given, in connectionparticularly with Figs. 7 to 21, inclusive, of the rela tive andsequential operations of the different members involved in the selectiveoperation and release of the different contact sets. Assume rst that allor the four contact sets 13, 19, 2l) and 2l are open, that thehorizontal and vertical bars 8 and l2 are at normal, and that it isdesired to close contact set iii. Fig. '7 shows all of the parts intheir normal position the same as in Fig. 2. To selectively operate thecontact set IB, the operating finger 42 is moved upwardly as seen inFig. 8 into the central notch 32 of plate 22. Next the operating arm 43is moved to the right causing projection 44 to engage the finger 42 andadvance plate 22 to the right against the tension of its supportingsprings 24 and 25 to close the contacts i8. As the plate 22 approachesits extreme right-hand position the roller 29 enters the leftwhandholding notch 26, the effect of which is to urge the plate 22 somewhaturther to the right as seen in Fig. 9. Next the horizontal bar isrestored, with the result that the spring finger 42 slides down out ofthe notch 32, enters the recess b-etween the projections 44 and 45 andreturns to its normal position as seen in Fig. l0. Since the plate 22has been cammed slightly to the right by the action of roller 29entering the holding notch 23, the gripping action of the projection 44on the iinger 42 in the notch 32 is withdrawn to permit the freerestoration oi the linger 42 when the horizontal bar is released asabove explained. Finally the vertical bar is restored permitting theoperating arm 43 to return to its normal position, as seen in Fig. 11.Thus the contact set I8 has been operated and locked, and the operatingbars have restored, returning the iinger 42 and the arm 43 to theirnormal positions, which they occupied before the bars were operated.

Assume now that it is desired to release the operated conta-cts I8. Themanner in which this is accomplished is illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14,inclusive. First the vertical bar is operated to move the operating arm43 from its normal position as illustrated in Fig. 'l to its operatedposition, shown in Fig. l2. Next the horizontal bar is operated to movethe selecting finger 42 upwardly, as shown in Fig. 13, behind theprojection 44 and into the notch 3i oi plate 22. Next the vertical baris released, and the arm 43 moves back to its normal position. In sodoing, the inner surface of the projection 44 engages the finger 42forcing vit and the plate 22 to the left. As the plate 22 moves towardits normal position, contacts I8 open, and roller 29 rides out or" thenotch 26. As the plate 22 appreaches its normal position the roller 29drops into the central notch 2l, and by its camming action fullyrestores the bar 22 to its central position as seen in Fig. 14. Finallythe horizontal bar is released, and the flexible iinger 42 restores toits normal position as shown in Fig. '7.

Assume next that the upper left-hand set of contacts 2li are to beoperated. The operations involved in the selection and closure ofcontacts are graphically illustrated in Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive. Firstthe operating arm 43 is moved to its operated position as shown in Fig.15. Next the horizontal bar is rotated upwardly to position theoperating nnger 42 behind the projection 44. This position is seen inFig. 16. Next the operating arm 43 is restored to its normal position,during which movement the projection 44 engages the finger 42, whichalso rests in the center slot 32, and forces the operating plate 22toward the left. As the plate 22 moves away from its normal position,the roller 29 rides out of the center notch 2l. As the plate 22approaches its operated position it closes the contact set 2d, and theroller drops into the right-hand notch 23, giving the plate 22 a smalladditional movement to the left to free the grip oi the projection 44 onthe flexible finger 42. This position is seen in Fig. 17. Finally, thehorizontal har is released, and the flexible spring finger 42 escapesfrom the recess behind the projection 44 and returns to its norma-lposition as seen in Fig. 18.

A description will now be given or the operations involved intheselective release of the contact set 2d. rFliese operations areillustrated in Figs. 19 to 21, inclusive. The first step is to rotatethe horizontal bar upwardly to position 'the ilegible finger 42 in theright-hand notch 33 of the plate 22. Then the vertical bar is rotated,and the projection 44 engages the finger and forces the plate 22 towardthe right. During this movement or the plate 22 the roller 28 rises outoi the notch 28 and drops into the center notch 2l. I-lere again theroller 22 produces a slight additional movement of the plate to free thenger 42. The position of the parts at this stage is illustrated in Fig.20. Next the horizontal bar is released, and the spring ringer 42restores to its normal position as shown in Fig. 2l. Finally thevertical bar is released, and the operating arm 43 returns to the normalposition shown in 7.

From an inspection oi the drawings and particularly the Figs. 'I to 21,inclusive, it will be seen that the two bottom sets of contacts l!! and2i may be selectively operated and released by the contact operatingplate 23 when the Vertical and horizontal bars are` operated in theproper sequences. Since these sequential operations are similar to theones already described in detail, it is not believed that a furtherdetailed explanation is necessary.

While the switch to which the present invention is applicable is notlimited to any particular use and may be employed in conjunction withnumerous forms of operating circuits, one system of controllingcircuits, which may be em ployed to advantage for controlling theoperation of the switch magnets, is illustrated in Fig. 23. Associatedwith the switch is a register 43 which may be similar to any of thewell-known register senders employed in cross-bar systems. The register4B receives the numerical record transmitted thereto over the line ortrunk 49 for the purpose of determining; the sequential operation of theswitch magnets. The line 49 terminates in the usual impulse relay 5Dwhich energizes when the line is seized and which causes the operationof a slow release control relay 5I. As the designation impulses arercceived by the relay 5I) they are transferred over the impulseconductor 52 to set the register At the proper time ground potential isapplied to conductor 53 by the reg'ster, the circuit of which extendsover the back contact of relay 54, baci; contact of relay 55, conductor55, left back contact of relay 51, thence over conductor 53 through theregister 48 to the winding of the desired horizontal operating magnetI5. MagM net I5 operates and rotates the horizontal bar 8 for thepurpose already described. operation of magnet I5 causes the closure ofa circuit through the register, over the conductor 55, through the backcontact ci relay 5U, thence over conductor 6I, through the register 48,and the winding ci the desired vertical operating magnet I5. Magnet I6in operating completes a circuit over conductor 62 through the registerand a back contact of relay 6U, right-hand wind-- ing of relay 51 tobattery. Relay 51 operates and locks through its left winding ol irontcon tact to ground on conductor 55. Relay 51 at its left back contactcauses the release ci the horizontal magnet I5. Magnet I5 in releasingreleases the vertical magnet I5. Relay 51 also closes a circuit at itsouter right contact for operating relay 55. Relay 55 energizes and locksthrough its left contact to ground at the back contact of relay 54.Relay 55 releases relay When the line or trunk 49 is released, relays 5Uand 5I become deenergized, and relay 5I closes a circuit for relay 54.Relay 54 reverses the con-- nection ci conductors 53 and G4 and alsoreleases relay 55. A circuit now closed from ground on the conductor 53through inner iront Contact ci relay 54, back contact oi' relayconductor 55, through the winding of relay 65. Relay Si) operates andcompletes a circuit from the ground on conductor 65, through the inner'right back con-- tact of relay 51, outer left Contact of relay '35,conductor 5|, through the register to the vertical magnet I6. TheVertical magnet I5 completes a circuit over conductor G2 through theinner front contact of relay G0, conductor 58, thence through theregister to horizontal magnet I5. Magnet I5 operates and closes acircuit over the conductor 59, thc middle front contact of relay 50 tooperate the relay 51. Relay 51 opens the circuit of vertical magnet I6,which releases and in turn releases the horizontal magnet I5. Relay 51applies ground to conductor 6E, operating relay 55. Relay releases relay50 and extends the grounded conductor 66 over the left front contact ofrelay 54 and conductor B1 to operate relay 68 in the register 48. In anysuitable manner relay 6B causes the restoration of the register circuit.Thereupon the relays 54, 55 and 51 are released.

In a similar manner the register and controlling circuit selects andoperates any desired ones of the Vertical and horizontal magnets in theswitch to selectively operate and release the desired sets oi contacts.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic switch, two operating magnets, a plurality ofseparate contact sets controlled by said magnets, and means responsiveto the operation of said magnets jointly ior selectively operating anyone of said sets of contacts.

2. In an automatic switch, two operating magnets, a plurality ofseparate contact sets controlled by said magnets, means responsive tothe operation of said magnets jointly for selectively operating any oneof said sets of contacts, and means for maintaining said contactsoperated following the release of said magnets.

3. In an automatic switch, a plurality of contact sets arranged to beoperated and released, magnets for controlling the operation and releaseof said contact sets, and means responsive to the operation of a pair ofmagnets jointly for selectively releasing the operated 'contacts of anyone oi said sets.

l. The combination in a selective switch of a pair of operating magnets,a plurality of separate contact sots controlled by said magnets, andmeans responsive to the operation of said magnets jointly forselectively operating and releasing any one of said sets of contacts.

5. In an automatic switch, two operating magnets, a plurality ofseparate contact sets controlled by said magnets, and means responsiveto magnets jointly when operated in diierent sequential orders lorselectively operating said contact sets.

6. In an automatic switch, a plurality of sepiarate contact setsarranged to he operated and released, two operating magnets forcontrolling the operation and the release of said contact sets, andmeans responsive to said magnets jointly when operated in differentsequential orders to release selectively said sets of contacts.

7. The combination in an automatic switch of a pair of operatingmagnets, a number oi contact sets controlledoy said magnets, and meansresponsive to the energization and deenergization of said magnetsjointly in diierent orders ior sel ctively closing and opening saidcontact sets.

8. The combination in a cross-bar switch of a plurality ci' verticaloperating magnets, a plurality of horizontal operating magnets, bars,one for each of said magnets, a plurality of separate contact setsarranged in groups, the contact sets of each group heing associated witha particular one of said vertical magnets and a particular one ofhorizontal magnets, and means including bars responsive to the operationin different sequential orders of any one of the vertical magnets andany one of the horizontal magnets for selectively operating any sot ofcontacts in the corresponding group.

9. The combination in a switch having contact sets arranged inhorizontal rows and vertical rows, two intersecting hars, one common totwo horizontal rows and the other common to two vertical rows, meanscontrolled by said bars for operating any one of the contact sets at theintersection of said bars.

10. The combination in a switch having contact sets arranged inhorizontal rows and vertical rows, two intersecting bars, one common totwo horizontal rows and the other common to two vertical rows, and meanscontrolled by said bars for operating and for releasing any one of thecontact sets at the intersection of said bars.

11. The combination in a switch having contact sets arranged inhorizontal rows and vertical rows, two intersecting bars, one Common totwo horizontal rows and the other common to two vertical rows, and meansfor operating and releasing said bars in different sequential orders toselect and operate and release any of the contact sets at theintersection of said bars.

12. A switch comprising intersecting rows of contact sets, each point ofintersection having more than two separately operable Contact sets, andtwo bars conjointly operable to select and operate any Contact set atone of said points of intersection,

13. A switch having intersecting rows of contact sets, each point ofintersection comprising more than two separately operable contact sets,and a pair of conjointly operable cross-bars for selecting and releasingany contact set at one of said points of intersection.

HARRY HOWARD SCHNECKLOTH.

